Immanuel Kant changed the course of Philosophical thinking in the western tradition. He studied the works of David Hume. Kant aimed to move beyond the rationalists and empiricists philosophies. Kant's central idea was a "Copernican Revolution" in philosophy. According to Kant, a recognition that the appearance of the external world depends in some measure upon the position and movement of its observers, became the basis for Kant's life-long project.
Biography
Immanuel Kant (April 22nd, 1724-February 12th, 1804) was born in the East Prussian city of Konigsberg, where he spent his entire life. He was born the 4th of 9 children. His father was a saddle maker. He was raised in a poor, religious family. His Christianity influenced his ideas. From the ages of 16-21 he studied at Konigsberg University. In 1746, his father died, he then spent 9 years as a private tutor to boys under the age of 12. In 1755, he returned to Konigserg University. From the years 1755-1770, he was a nonsalaried professor. In 1770-1794, Kant was a professor of philosophy. In 1770, when Kant was 46 years old, a student wrote him a letter, following an assigned paper, asking Kant to explain his theories. Kant went into isolation for 10 years. He came out of his silence with his Critique of Pure Reason, which was published in 1781. Kant worked his whole life to work his way up in the system. He was a popular lecturer, who drew standing room crowds. He gave his last lecture in 1796 on Answer to the the question: What is Enlightenment? He died at the age of 80 years old.
Major Works
-Critique of Pure Reason, 1781, 1787 (for the philosophy of the mind)
-Critique of Practical Reason, 1788 (moral philosophy)
-Critique of the Power of Judgement, 1790 (aesthetics-philosophy of art)
-An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment?, 1784
-Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals, 1785 (the three Categorical Imperatives are explained)
Philosophy
Kant forever changed the way we thing about reality. He explored the possibilities of knowledge and the question of reality in subjective appearances or objective existence. Kant thought there were conditions that govern how the mind works, which influence the way we experience the world. Two elements, sensory perception, and reason, contribute to man's knowledge. Kant showed that the mind constructs our experience along certain lines. Therefore, thinking and experience give no access to things as they really are.
Some of Kant's use of language is difficult to understand, which even gave his contemporaries some difficulties. Kant himself made it known that he could not even comprehend every aspect of his own thoughts, therefore he found it necessary to transcend them. Kant felt, as humans, we can never fully understand what we are, or comprehend the universe. He felt knowledge is beyond the range of perception.
Kant had strong beliefs in moral values and in making ethical choices. Kant wrote the Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals in 1785. He proposed a moral law he called the Categorical Imperative. It focused on; what is right, is right, what is wrong, is wrong, and there is no in between. He divided it into 3 maxims:
1. Universality- only do something if it is okay that everyone else would do it all the time.
2. Ends vs. Means- you are never allowed to manipulate anyone, and never lie for any reason.
3. Your own Moral Rules- you have absolute moral control of yourself. You are not responsible for other peoples choices, only your own.
Kant discussed learning methods and felt children learned and retained those things which he learns for himself. "The greatest need is to teach children to think, and not to train them like animals." Kant felt education is capable of bringing improvement in the world, and important for the development of mankind.
Kant was an advocate of peaceful coexistence between nations. He wrote Perpetual Peace. The League of Nations was founded 125 years after his writings on peace.
Kant's biggest question is stated simply, "Is it possible to know what is ultimately real?"
Quotations
"Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life."
"To be is to do."
"Dare to think!"
"Two things awe me the most, the starry sky above me and the moral law within me."
Interesting Facts
Never traveled more than 50 miles from his home.
Took a walk everyday at 3:00 P.M., townspeople set their clocks by his walk.
He didn't want to breathe through his mouth in public, for the fear of sickness. He therefore breathed through his nose, to filter out germs.
He was less than 5 feet tall and had a drooping left shoulder.
Twice he thought of marrying, but he took too long thinking about it and both women had already "moved on".
Immanuel Kant
Introduction
Immanuel Kant changed the course of Philosophical thinking in the western tradition. He studied the works of David Hume. Kant aimed to move beyond the rationalists and empiricists philosophies. Kant's central idea was a "Copernican Revolution" in philosophy. According to Kant, a recognition that the appearance of the external world depends in some measure upon the position and movement of its observers, became the basis for Kant's life-long project.
Biography
Immanuel Kant (April 22nd, 1724-February 12th, 1804) was born in the East Prussian city of Konigsberg, where he spent his entire life. He was born the 4th of 9 children. His father was a saddle maker. He was raised in a poor, religious family. His Christianity influenced his ideas. From the ages of 16-21 he studied at Konigsberg University. In 1746, his father died, he then spent 9 years as a private tutor to boys under the age of 12. In 1755, he returned to Konigserg University. From the years 1755-1770, he was a nonsalaried professor. In 1770-1794, Kant was a professor of philosophy. In 1770, when Kant was 46 years old, a student wrote him a letter, following an assigned paper, asking Kant to explain his theories. Kant went into isolation for 10 years. He came out of his silence with his Critique of Pure Reason, which was published in 1781. Kant worked his whole life to work his way up in the system. He was a popular lecturer, who drew standing room crowds. He gave his last lecture in 1796 on Answer to the the question: What is Enlightenment? He died at the age of 80 years old.
Major Works
-Critique of Pure Reason, 1781, 1787 (for the philosophy of the mind)
-Critique of Practical Reason, 1788 (moral philosophy)
-Critique of the Power of Judgement, 1790 (aesthetics-philosophy of art)
-An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment?, 1784
-Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals, 1785 (the three Categorical Imperatives are explained)
Philosophy
Kant forever changed the way we thing about reality. He explored the possibilities of knowledge and the question of reality in subjective appearances or objective existence. Kant thought there were conditions that govern how the mind works, which influence the way we experience the world. Two elements, sensory perception, and reason, contribute to man's knowledge. Kant showed that the mind constructs our experience along certain lines. Therefore, thinking and experience give no access to things as they really are.
Some of Kant's use of language is difficult to understand, which even gave his contemporaries some difficulties. Kant himself made it known that he could not even comprehend every aspect of his own thoughts, therefore he found it necessary to transcend them. Kant felt, as humans, we can never fully understand what we are, or comprehend the universe. He felt knowledge is beyond the range of perception.
Kant had strong beliefs in moral values and in making ethical choices. Kant wrote the Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals in 1785. He proposed a moral law he called the Categorical Imperative. It focused on; what is right, is right, what is wrong, is wrong, and there is no in between. He divided it into 3 maxims:
1. Universality- only do something if it is okay that everyone else would do it all the time.
2. Ends vs. Means- you are never allowed to manipulate anyone, and never lie for any reason.
3. Your own Moral Rules- you have absolute moral control of yourself. You are not responsible for other peoples choices, only your own.
Kant discussed learning methods and felt children learned and retained those things which he learns for himself. "The greatest need is to teach children to think, and not to train them like animals." Kant felt education is capable of bringing improvement in the world, and important for the development of mankind.
Kant was an advocate of peaceful coexistence between nations. He wrote Perpetual Peace. The League of Nations was founded 125 years after his writings on peace.
Kant's biggest question is stated simply, "Is it possible to know what is ultimately real?"
Quotations
"Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life."
"To be is to do."
"Dare to think!"
"Two things awe me the most, the starry sky above me and the moral law within me."
Interesting Facts
Bibliography